Spring is in the air and it’s time to get on top of your pets flea problem.
Choosing a flea treatment is no easy task and you want to be sure you use the best and safest product for your pet. New products are constantly coming onto the market offering the convenience of longer protection against fleas and ticks, so let’s to recap on how to tackle Fleas!
THE NEED FOR CHANGE -RESISTANCE !
Like most species of animal and insect the flea is a survivor. It has the ability to adapt its biological make up in order to counteract environmental changes that may threaten its existence. These changes do not happen overnight but they do happen. For many years the flea products available to us contained the same old insecticides, which eventually became useless. Drug companies have constantly tried to come up with new ways of combating this problem whilst ensuring the safety of your pet.
CHEMICAL WARFARE!
Many modern flea treatments contain chemicals that attack the nerve cells of fleas causing hyperactivity, disorientation, paralysis and death of the flea. Other products include an insect growth regulator that also interrupts the flea breeding cycle.
These products are rigorously tested for efficacy and safety before they can be registered. It is probably safe to say that the newest flea products are going to be the most efficient as they will have been developed using the latest research. Here are some of the products worth investigating.
• active ingredient indoxacarb that was specifically developed to overcome insect resistance
• uses enzymes inside the flea to activate it.
• Indoxacarb has not been used for flea control before.
• It is effective at killing adult and developing stages of fleas
• no known resistance – yet!
• 4 weeks of efficacy against adult fleas on the pet and developing stages of fleas in the pet’s environment
• spot on treatment
• safe for dogs and cats from 8 weeks of age or more than specified weight
• waterproof and remains effective after shampooing and bathing
• does NOT kill ticks
• active ingredient afoxolaner
• oral systemic treatment
• tick and flea control for 1 month
• safe for pups 8wks and older
• dogs can swim
• NOT FOR USE IN CATS
• safety in pregnant or lactating bitches has not been tested
• active ingredient Fluralaner
• Fluralaner is a potent inhibitor of parts of the arthropod nervous system
• kills adult as well as juvenile ticks (larvae, nymphs).
• Newly emerged fleas on a dog are killed before viable eggs are produced.
• acts systemically so dog can be bathed and can swim
• safe for puppies over 8 weeks old
• NOT FOR USE IN CATS
• LASTS FOR 12 WEEKS
• Can be used in breeding, pregnant and lactating dogs.
• a topical solution with an easy Twist'n'Use™ applicator.
• active ingredient Fluralaner
• kills ticks for up to 12 weeks
• kills fleas and prevents flea infestations for 6 months.
• Fluralaner is a potent inhibitor of parts of the arthropod nervous system
• kills adult as well as juvenile ticks (larvae, nymphs). Newly emerged fleas on a dog are killed before viable eggs are produced.
• kills fleas and ticks for 12 weeks
• a topical solution with an easy Twist'n'Use™ applicator.
• active ingredient Fluralaner
• Fluralaner is a potent inhibitor of parts of the arthropod nervous system
• kills adult as well as juvenile ticks (larvae, nymphs). Newly emerged fleas on a dog are killed before viable eggs are produced.
Bravecto has been tested extensively for the safety of your pet, for more information check out the website.
SERESTO COLLAR
• imidacloprid & Flumethrin
• pevents tick and flea infestation for 8 months
• repells ticks and fleas immediately
• frequent swimming or shampooing should be avoided
• safe for use in cats over 10 weeks old
• safe for puppies over 7 weeks old
• safety in pregnant or lactating animals has not been tested.
Things to consider before purchasing your flea treatment:
• how bad is the flea problem? You may need to start with a combination of products including environmental insecticides to get on top of your pets fleas.
• does your dog swim ? If so, choose a product that will withstand your dog being wet .
• will your pet tolerate a collar?
• how easy is it to dose your pet or apply spot treatments?
• how good are you in remembering to treat your pet every month?
Unfortunately, one of the main reasons flea treatments fail is the pet owner! The months go by so quickly it is not always easy to keep up, if you find you slip up with medication it’s definitely worth considering those that last longer!
